Sr EO/IR Systems Engineer

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated; Wilsonville (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Teledyne FLIR Defense is seeking a Senior EO/IR Systems Engineer in Oregon to lead optical payload development and system integration for airborne surveillance platforms.

The role emphasizes design, verification tests, and NPI collaboration across DoD/space-grade programs, with emphasis on radiometric modeling, image quality evaluation, and teamwork across multidisciplinary groups.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Optical/Electronic Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years in EO/SWIR/IR optical design and imaging system work.
• Strong knowledge of VIS/NIR/SWIR/MWIR/LWIR optics and sensors.
• Hands-on experience integrating EO/IR sensors into gimbal systems.
• DoD or Space program experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead optical payload development and integration into gimbal systems.
• Participate in optical design, alignment, testing, and 6 DOF sensing.
• Develop specifications for optical components and subsystems.
• Create and review DVT plans and testing procedures.
• Support NPI, DFM and manufacturing acceptance testing.
• Assist business development with sensor performance modeling.

Skills

EO/IR optical design

Gimbal system integration

ZEMAX tools

Systems engineering

Testing & characterization

Technical leadership

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Optical/Electronic Engineering

Tools

ZEMAX

Job description

Be visionary

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets that require advanced technology and high reliability. These markets include aerospace and defense, factory automation, air and water quality environmental monitoring, electronics design and development, oceanographic research, deepwater oil and gas exploration and production, medical imaging and pharmaceutical research.

We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins.

Job Description

About Teledyne FLIR Defense

Join Teledyne FLIR Defense, where we’re dedicated to supporting critical missions with an exciting range of cutting-edge technologies. Our products include advanced surveillance sensors, unmanned air and ground vehicles, sensing devices used to detect chemicals, biological agents, radiation and explosives, and a host of other solutions that help warfighters, first responders, and search-and-rescue teams do their jobs better.

We’re looking for passionate innovators eager to shape the future of the Defense and Public Safety industries. If you’re mission-driven to globally collaborate on solutions that can change the battlefield and save lives, we invite you to explore our current opportunities.

#AnyThreatAnywhere

Job Summary:

The Senior EO/IR Systems Engineer will play a primary systems engineering role. The successful candidate will be responsible for sophisticated Electro-Optical (visible-NIR), SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR reflective and refractive optical imaging payload development, integration, and design verification test (DVT) plan development and implementation. This role supports cutting-edge technological ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and ISR-T surveillance product development through the NPI (New Product Introduction) process, spanning from early prototyping to full market launch. Key responsibilities include specifications and requirements development, characterization, trade studies, tolerancing, radiometric modeling and analysis, system integration, testing, and image quality evaluation.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead and contribute to optical subsystem payload development and integration into higher-level, full gimbal systems for airborne and land surveillance applications. Payloads include EO/SWIR/MWIR/LWIR image sensors, laser rangefinders, and optional laser designators.
• Actively participate in optical and imaging system design, alignment, and testing, as well as gimbal system design, operation, testing, and spatial (6 DOF) sensing systems.
• Perform optical design of discrete and continuous reflective and refractive optical zoom imaging systems using ZEMAX tools.
• Develop and maintain specifications and requirements for optical components, optical imaging subsystems, and complete optical systems.
• Perform radiometric and image quality analysis for EO/SWIR/MWIR/LWIR image sensors.
• Create, review, and present flow-down specifications for subcontracting optical components and subsystems.
• Create Design Verification Test (DVT) plans and test procedures for all payload and full-system characterizations.
• Support manufacturing group in creating acceptance test plans (ATPs) for future product manufacturing and testing.
• Perform laboratory testing to characterize, evaluate, and calibrate optical lenses and Cassegrain telescopes.
• Test and characterize EO/SWIR/MWIR/LWIR imaging sensors and camera performance metrics—such as MTF, NETD, SiTF, 3D noise, FOV, boresight, and latency—at both the subsystem level and the fully integrated, software‑driven gimbal system level.
• Review optomechanical interface models and drawings, electrical schematics, and software features/functions to provide constructive feedback to designers.
• Support the New Product Introduction (NPI) process and Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
• Support Business Development and Sales by analyzing new customer requirements, writing proposals, modeling sensor performance, and responding to technical inquiries.
• Provide systems engineering support to manufacturing as requested.

Job Qualifications:

• Education: BS, MS, or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or a closely related disciplinary field.
• Experience: 7+ years of direct experience in EO/SWIR/IR optical design, optical imaging system design, and characterization.
• Core Knowledge: Solid foundational knowledge and deep understanding of visible and infrared imaging optics, as well as EO/IR imaging sensors.
• System Integration: Solid, hands‑on experience integrating EO/IR image sensors into gimbal systems.
• Material Expertise: Excellent knowledge base and experience working with VIS/NIR/SWIR/MWIR/LWIR optical materials.
• Optical Design Tools: Demonstrated hands‑on experience designing optical lenses, reflective imaging optics, prisms, and optical filters for EO/IR imaging using ZEMAX tools.
• Testing & Characterization: Demonstrated hands‑on experience testing and characterizing EO/IR imaging sensor systems.
• Testing Documentation: Demonstrated experience creating EO/IR/LRF design verification test (DVT) plans and test reports.
• Systems Engineering: Systems engineering experience developing large, complex EO/IR/LRF surveillance products. DoD or Space systems engineering experience is a plus.
• Design Review: Excellent knowledge and experience in optical design reviews, as well as optomechanical interface model and drawing reviews and electrical schematic design reviews
• Sensor Integration: Excellent knowledge base and hands‑on experience with EO/IR image sensors and EO/IR/LRF sensor system integration.
• Team Leadership: Strong experience leading or collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on new product development, from conceptual stages through PDR, CDR, TRR, and LRIP.
• Specifications & Requirements Management: Demonstrated experience developing, maintaining, and tracking specification and requirements compliance matrices, risk identification, and risk mitigation. Communication: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively as a collaborator and team player.
• Security Clearance: Ability to obtain a US security clearance if required

Applicants must be either a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, legal permanent resident, asylee, refugee or must be eligible to apply for and obtain the appropriate export control license from the U.S. Departments of State or Commerce.

Teledyne and all of our employees are committed to conducting business with the highest ethical standards. We require all employees to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, rules and regulatory orders. Our reputation for honesty, integrity and high ethics is as important to us as our reputation for making innovative sensing solutions.

Teledyne is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other characteristic or non‑merit based factor made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.